Oxygen concentrator having structural sieve beds

Abstract

Embodiments of oxygen concentrators having a sieve bed that includes a vessel filled with a separation medium are disclosed. The sieve bed vessel at least partially supports one chassis component of the oxygen concentrator with respect to another chassis component. of the oxygen concentrator.

1. A concentrator for providing a breathing gas comprising:
 a first chassis component; 
 a second chassis component; and 
 at least one sieve bed comprising a vessel filled with a separation medium, wherein a rim of the sieve bed vessel is disposed in a recess of the second chassis component to couple the sieve bed vessel to the second chassis component such that the sieve bed vessel supports the second chassis component relative to the first chassis component. 
 
     
     
       2. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein a first portion of said sieve bed vessel is positioned in a pocket of the first chassis component to couple the sieve bed to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       3. The concentrator of  claim 1  further comprising a second sieve bed that supports the second chassis component relative to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       4. The concentrator of  claim 2  wherein the pocket includes bosses and walls. 
     
     
       5. The concentrator of  claim 4  wherein the bosses and walls provide support for the first portion of the sieve bed vessel and limit lateral movement of said first portion of the sieve bed vessel with respect to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       6. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises at least one downwardly extending wall portion. 
     
     
       7. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises first and second downwardly extending wall portions. 
     
     
       8. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises least one substantially horizontally extending wall portion. 
     
     
       9. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises first and second substantially horizontally extending wall portions. 
     
     
       10. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises a cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
       11. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises a metal cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
       12. The concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises an aluminum cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for providing a breathing gas comprising:
 a first chassis component having a recess; 
 a second chassis component having a recess; and 
 a sieve bed vessel disposed in the recesses of the first and second chassis components, 
 wherein the sieve bed forms at least a portion of a third chassis component. 
 
     
     
       14. A concentrator for providing a breathing gas comprising:
 a first chassis component; 
 a second chassis component; and 
 at least one sieve bed comprising a vessel filled with a separation medium, wherein a rim of the sieve bed vessel is disposed in a recess of the second chassis component to couple the sieve bed vessel to the second chassis component such that the sieve bed vessel supports the second chassis component relative to the first chassis component, and said rim of the sieve bed vessel is disposed in a recess of a third chassis component to couple the sieve bed to the third chassis component. 
 
     
     
       15. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein a first portion of said sieve bed vessel is positioned in a pocket of the first chassis component to couple the sieve bed vessel to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       16. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the first chassis component, the second chassis component, and the third chassis component are secured together, such that the sieve bed vessel is captured between the chassis components and supports the chassis components with respect to one another. 
     
     
       17. The concentrator of  claim 14  further comprising a second sieve bed that supports the second chassis component relative to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       18. The concentrator of  claim 15  wherein the pocket includes bosses and walls. 
     
     
       19. The concentrator of  claim 18  wherein the bosses and walls provide support for the first portion of the sieve bed vessel and limit lateral movement of said first portion of the sieve bed vessel with respect to the first chassis component. 
     
     
       20. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises at least one downwardly extending wall portion. 
     
     
       21. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises first and second downwardly extending wall portions. 
     
     
       22. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises least one substantially horizontally extending wall portion. 
     
     
       23. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the recess of the second chassis component comprises first and second substantially horizontally extending wall portions. 
     
     
       24. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises a cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
       25. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises a metal cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
       26. The concentrator of  claim 14  wherein the sieve bed vessel comprises an aluminum cylindrical pressure vessel.